**1. Introduction**

Circular Economy is a viable and promising alternative to the currently prevailing linear economic system. The fact of having a world with finite resources involves the need to adopt a sustainable economic system where sustainable processes must be prioritized [1]. Therefore, in this context of finite resources, Circular Economy seeks economic growth only if achieved in a sustainable way by keeping resources within closed cycles as long as possible. The significant importance of the decisions taken during the design phase of products and services results in the fact that over 80% of all product-related environmental impacts are originated in their design phase [2].

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) warns that if the world's population were to reach 9.5 billion in 2050, the natural resources of nearly three planets would be needed to sustain current and predicted lifestyle [3]. On the other hand, the Global Footprint Network advises us that by 2020 the resources we had for the whole year were already spent by August 22th [4].

If that were not enough, we have been witnessing climate change for too many years. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [5], since the beginning of the industrial age, the average temperature of the planet has increased by 1°C. If the trend continues, it is expected to rise by between 3°C and 5°C by 2100. Furthermore, the extraction and processing of natural resources has accelerated significantly over the last two decades and, it is responsible for half of the impacts related to biodiversity loss, water stress and climate change [6]. Besides, our planet lives in a systemic crisis, with alarming social and economic inequalities, increasing rates of loss of natural biodiversity and cultural heritage, and a senseless growing pressure on natural resources and systems.

It is in this context that the concept of sustainability has gained in importance, with the steadily rising awareness of the necessity for a deep change that started in the end of the 80s. Parallel to this, the word "sustainability" seems to have become a multipurpose and valid term for any context, objective, argumentation or ideological-political stream [7].

Continuing the work started in 2000 with the Millennium Development Goals in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [8] was adopted by 193 countries at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. The 2030 Agenda, our roadmap for the next 15 years, is acknowledged as transformative, universal and integrated, and it provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future [9].

The 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development cannot be achieved without systemic transformations on several fronts. Indeed, the 12th goal for sustainable development points at a responsible production and consumption system. Remaining within the paradigm of the linear system and establishing purely *ad hoc* changes will not be enough. In addition, the 4th goal for sustainable development, which reads "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all", has always been kept in mind. This quality education and lifelong learning requires a continuous review-adaptation of our formative programmes.

Currently, the UN's Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development [10] aims to contribute substantially to the 2030 development agenda, through two objectives:


In parallel with this UN Programme, the European Commission has launched the European Green Deal [11], a new growth strategy aiming to transform the European Union (EU) into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resourceefficient and competitive economy. Its main goals are, on the one hand, zero net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and, on the other hand, keeping economic growth decoupled from resource use.

Besides, the new Circular Economy Action Plan [12] announces initiatives along the entire life cycle of products, such as targeting their design, promoting Circular Economy processes, fostering sustainable consumption and ensuring that all resources used are kept in the EU economy as long as possible.

The Spanish Strategy for Circular Economy 2030 [13], approved in June 2020, is fully aligned with the European strategy. In this way, all materials are used to the greatest possible extent, so waste generation is minimized. Thus, this Strategy contributes to Spain's efforts to achieve a sustainable, decarbonized, resource-efficient and competitive economy.

In terms of circular economy, the Basque Country is one of the leading regions in Spain. It underwent a traumatic industrial reconversion in the 1980s and since then has been committed to a development in harmony with the environment. It is worth highlighting the great compromise on the part of public institutions and companies in this task.

By means of the Agenda Euskadi - Basque Country 2030 [14], and the Strategy for Education for Sustainability of the Basque Country 2030 [15], the government of the autonomous region of the Basque Country is also aligned with the aforementioned 2030 Agenda.

In this context, in January 2020, the Basque Government issued the key points of its Circular Economy Strategy 2030 [16], and among these strategic objectives and challenges, it promoted research and degree studies at university level. More recently, the Basque Green Deal [17], issued in May 2021, proposes its own roadmap for a more sustainable future while addressing the post-pandemic crisis and leaving no one behind.

The mission of the Basque Country's Circular Economy Strategy, with a time horizon of 2030, is to promote the transition of the Basque Country towards a Circular Economy model and to position itself as a reference region in Europe. It aims to achieve positive results for our territory in three main areas:1) increasing the turnover of Basque companies regarding circular products up to 10,000 million Euros, 2) creating 3,000 jobs in the field of Circular Economy and, 3) reducing by 26% the carbon emissions associated with consumption.

The implementation of these strategies requires qualified people, either people who are working or people who are studying for a degree/master's degree. Qualified people and specialists in circular economy are required but also - and this is very important - that people working in other fields or studying other disciplines are aware of this new paradigm of Circular Economy. Circular Economy requires a systemic change and that change will only be achieved if the majority of people are aware of this need and have enough knowledge on the kind of actions to be taken.

Since Education for Sustainable Development constitutes a mature field of study, scholars aiming to teach sustainable development can draw on many degrees in Education for Sustainable Development. On the contrary, despite the overall Circular Economy literature, research on Education for Circular Economy is still somewhat limited. Currently, with at least 850 articles published in academic journals regarding Circular Economy, academia is making efforts to include that subject in diverse teaching programs [18].

Therefore, the development of a master's degree in Circular Economy focused on Product Lifecycle Thinking is the answer to the environmental, social and economic needs of our industry and society. A secondary objective of the master's degree is to form a group of professors from different disciplines to integrate the principles of Circular Economy education in all bachelor and master degrees at the university.

The innovative aspect of the experience is that it is a long-standing, successful and scalable experience. It is also transferable to other universities or higher education institutions.

This article presents first a definition of the concepts of Circular Economy and the Product Lifecycle Thinking, together with a perspective on the relationship between Product Lifecycle management (PLM) and Circular Economy. Second, presents a contextualization of the various studies and innovation projects related to Ecodesign and Circular Economy carried out at the Faculty of Engineering of Bilbao. Third, presentations of other relevant European studies that offer programs with partial or general similarity are listed. Finally, the last part gives a brief overview of the Master in "Circular Economy: Business Application" of the University of the Basque Country, including the intended learning outcomes together with a summary of the course related to… with a detailed description of each course.
